Alternate Catherine Cover Art For North America? [Update]

Atlus created two covers for Catherine. One has Vincent sliding down Catherine’s bra and the other shows him crawling up his girlfriend, Katherine. When Atlus confirmed Catherine for North America the announcement came with the original Japanese cover art.

Gamefly used to display those pictures, but recently the video game rental hub postedmodified cover art. These packages zoom in on Catherine and Katherine’s faces leaving the innuendo off the cover and store shelves.

“In addition to the existing North American covers for Catherine on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, there will also be modified designs that appear in select markets. The vast majority of copies available at launch will feature the cover we originally unveiled, essentially the Japanese cover of the game. A small percentage of copies, however, will feature a cover that is more considerate of certain retailers’ broader customer demographic. Fans need not worry; Catherine’s cover art is NOT being altered for North America. There is just an extra option being made available for more sensitive shoppers.”

Thanks to Atlus editor, Nich Maragos, for conveying Aram’s explanation of the situation in our comments.

Small price to pay to ensure that this game gets maximum sales and existence in North America. It’s not as if I’m going to spend hours upon hours staring at the box as opposed to playing the game.

https://twitter.com/RaiohV ShinkaRaioh

You don’t? Hmm, then I’m doing something wrong, I think…

Zero_Destiny

Nothing wrong at all. I stare at my shelf of games every night and smile myself to sleep. Yes sir nothing wrong with that. Especially when you got risqué covers to boot. And yay for them coming back (er never leaving I guess. lol). I’m all happy now. ^_^

https://twitter.com/RaiohV ShinkaRaioh

Same here my Nakama same here, nothing better than to sleep with a big smile on you face after looking at your collection with awesome covers and be proud of them! Gotta need to make my room full of awesome game boxes, so that every day will be a good day! :D

Zero_Destiny

At your Junes :)
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWinYDhzm88]

https://twitter.com/RaiohV ShinkaRaioh

Dude, that was hardcore…I think my head exploded, fused together, and exploded again…and I think I’ve seen a loli laugh at me together with George Clooney, while this all happened….>_<

puchinri

Indeed. Considering the game is where the real sexy times are at, doesn’t make sense to get too tripped over the box since you’re not losing much.

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_REPVLCYWA665BQ3P764CJODKOE Andrew

Hmm, Ok well at least my import is kind of cool now!

http://twitter.com/Paradox_me Paradox me

If we have to get alternate covers then at least give us something original, not oddly cropped versions of artwork that was fine to begin with.

Pichi

Should have know the ESRB would have a problem with it like they did with BlazBlue PSP and 3DS boxes.

thebanditking

perhaps I missed something what was changed about the BB box for PSP/3DS?

Pichi

They covered up Makoto’s under boob with placing other characters around her. Kind of like what Atlus did to the Luminous Arc 2 box art of one character covering up a busty girl’s boobs.

Locklear93

This will go over poorly with… well, most people who’ve been anticipating Catherine, I expect. I’d seriously intended to get both, for the cover art. I’d only bother with one of these; the crop really isn’t interesting or collectible to me.

http://twitter.com/Xander_VJ David García Abril

Not that I want to offend anybody but, seriously… WHAT THE FREAKING HELL IS WRONG WITH AMERICAN COVER ARTS?!

It’s like the retails do it on purpose to piss people off!

Oh, well, as Stroizer says, maybe it’s the price to pay for seeing the game in the West and give it a chance to success.

[The Hunter] Doomrider

Never change, America <3

Still a gorgeous cover, and I'm sure the artbook that comes with the game will have that specific artwork in its entirety. Then we will be able to enjoy looking at it while listening to the awesome OST that also comes with the game.

*wink wink nudge nudge*

Nich Maragos

Relax, guys, this is an alternate, not a replacement:

In addition to the existing North American covers for Catherine on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, there will also be modified designs that appear in select markets. The vast majority of copies available at launch will feature the cover we originally unveiled, essentially the Japanese cover of the game. A small percentage of copies, however, will feature a cover that is more considerate of certain retailers’ broader customer demographic. Fans need not worry; Catherine’s cover art is NOT being altered for North America. There is just an extra option being made available for more sensitive shoppers.

http://www.siliconera.com/ Ishaan

For anyone that doesn’t know, Nich is an editor at Atlus.

ps: Nich, if you could e-mail me from your Atlus mail (just so we can be sure it’s really you), I’d be happy to update the post with your quote.

kariohki

I hope people read this comment first instead of auto-raging XD

http://backloggery.com/wanderingmind WanderingMind

I was about to go into rage mode when I read that comment first. XD

Hexen

Thanks. I’ll just have the whole sheep as a cover if that happens.

http://www.facebook.com/vileta Dave Vileta

Hey Nich can you confirm anything about reversible cover art?

I mean like what Atlus USA did with Demon’s Souls and 3D Dot Game Heroes.

When you open the case, there’s something printed on the other side of the cover. It’s a great treat that shows the publisher really cares.

I’m concerned because I saw that Divinity II doesn’t have this. Are you guys planning anything for Catherine’s reverse side? At least for the PS3 version’s clear cases?

glemtvapen

I doubt they would go double side with the risqué inner layer. Chances are some 13 year old will see it and show to his parents about the boobies because we all know prudes are the only ones that buy these kinds of games.

Controversy! Let us over-react immediately!

[The Hunter] Doomrider

brb paging Fox News

Guest

Bill O’Really will rant (but secretly buy the game anyway)

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_2UDFY4ESBBF3Z255AJEISWVNTM Chris Dorelus

RAGE! freakin censoring here. people need to not care like they do in japan lol

Guest

It’s probably a two fold fear effect: fear of right wing bible belt ultra conservative soccer moms and Fox news and fear of potential customers too embarrassed to buy the game based off the cover art itself. Both probably not that justified in reality to warrant the change but whatever.

AdamBoy64

I’m in both those camps. (Well, minus the belting and the soccer mom bit.)
So this is good news for me.. I really don’t have any excuses now to not buy it.

I’ll also feel a lot better about showing/lending the game to others..
I’m pretty happy with the extra choice made available.

Zero_Destiny

Yay for Not losing our risqué covers with butt and boobies. ^_^ Hehehehehehe

puchinri

I actually wouldn’t mind that for a number of reasons, but it’s still nice that there are options. I’d probably get my copy off of Amazon, but now I gotta figure out what to put my Gamestop preorder money to.

Gio32k

It would be nice if they offer the original cover art as a printable download. I got some nice glossy printer paper I could use for it too.

AQuatermain

It’s good to read that update. Thank you, Atlus USA! :D

Chippel

At first they look funky, but I like them! Too bad they aren’t reversible.

Kaoro

So this new package is for places like Walmart, no? ;)

Guest

Actually the Walmart packaging will have Catherine in jean overalls with a trucker hat holding a shotgun and chewing on a twig of wheat.

HarryHodd

Booo

Edit: oh yes! I love the Japanese PS3 cover.

cmurph666

Rare alternate 3rd and 4th covers~?! lol

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_3WYMREBHZWTQ6MVXY2N7IGFDOE Ibr Far

I kind of liked the cropped better

http://twitter.com/JeremyDRogers Jeremy Rogers

Did anyone read the edit in the article?

puchinri

Apparently not.
Or everyone just wants to complain about lack of sexiness anyway. x’D

http://thrust-the-sky.deviantart.com/ WildArms

Hahah, we want our fair ammount of sexiness xD

puchinri

In that case, I want a cover of Vincent with only his pillow covering him in a provocative manner, lol. x’D

http://thrust-the-sky.deviantart.com/ WildArms

Haha, well, i find vicent with a pretty cool style, but hey! you will be playing with him on boxers for like 80% of the game xD, you cant say you dont have your fanservice haha

puchinri

Yeah, he does have a schway style~. Haha, and it’s about time. I think all the other Atlus games should be redone so we can have the MCs run around in boxers too. But Hitoshura can stay how he is at least. And maybe Raidou.

http://tristsantithesis.tumblr.com/ Tsunayoshi Sawada

So I guess Toy’s R Us, WalMart, Target, (maybe Gamestop will get both) will have the modified one and online retailers have the other? “Conjecture”

Oh Im getting regular one from AMZN.

Testsubject909

This game should never be sold at Toys R us.

Hell, most nearly any M rated games should never be sold at Toys R Us. It’s a freaking store for kid’s toys.

Chippel

My local Toys R Us has many things not made for children. The video games in particular are kept behind a locked case, but they’re there.

Some of their deals make it a worthwhile trip.

http://honorless.net honorless

What’s really amusing about you saying this is that I found my DDS LE at a Toys”R”Us. Might have gotten Nocturne there too, but I can’t remember.

Anyway, toys are hardly just for kids. I should know, I’ve got a few. Reminds me that I should see if that Mordin Solus action figure’s been released yet…

Testsubject909

True, but Toys R’ Us has always been marketed as a kid’s store or a store whose stocks are aimed towards kids.

Putting all the mature games into such an establishment doesn’t help with the whole mentality that “Games are for kids” and certainly gives more power to the people who worry that “kids will get their hands on these M rated games” despite security measures.

It’s like selling guns and ammunition in a Walmart. It’s just not smart…

… Please note. I’m Canadian. I have no idea if there are Walmarts in the US who sells guns and ammo…

http://honorless.net honorless

It does surprise me that they haven’t gotten singled out with all the gaming FUD in the mainstream media—but the fact that they keep whatever M-rated games they stock in a locked case probably means they’re one of the least likely retailers to break the rules for minors. And the only people who care about whether gaming is seen as childish are enthusiasts, not retailers.

…You keep saying amusing stuff, haha. I haven’t darkened the doors of a Walmart in maybe three years, but most of the stores I’ve been to sold guns and ammo. Might be a regional thing, though; I’ve always lived in places where hunting is common.

http://twitter.com/Buuhan1 Kyle Fedora

Walmart does indeed sell guns and ammo, least the ones I’ve been to do. Also Toys “R” Us is called just that, it’s not Kids “R” Us.

Guest

Kid’s “R’ Us is the now defunct kids clothing store

http://twitter.com/Cucumber_man Cucumber

What is weak is internet people’s inability to wait longer than 5 seconds before making idiotic snap judgements.

I dont understand how the assumption was made that the box arts or something was changed, since in the morning the separate listings of both regular and alternate edition was on AMZN.

http://twitter.com/Stefkov Stefan Kowalyszyn

This is nothing to fuss over.
As long as the Japanese audio is kept in there along with the new English audio (some of the VAs are my favourites) then whatever else happens doesn’t really matter.

CleruTesh

My assumption that it would be dual audio was said to be incorrect. Maybe they’ll offer a super limited box with two discs, t-shirt, poster, and OST. And make the extras different for each version to force us to buy both.
Hey, I can dream, can’t I?

I don’t really mind the cover alterations… But I am quite disappointed that they didn’t add in dual audio, as much as I enjoy some of the dubs from Troy Baker and Laura Bailey, Catherine’s jp version is just filled with voice actors that I have come to like… Miyuki Sawashiro! Yeah.

https://twitter.com/#!/SplashdownTiger STiger

Let’s hope if I buy it through Amazon I get the less sensitive cover. 8D

http://tristsantithesis.tumblr.com/ Tsunayoshi Sawada

Becuse its two separate listings on AMZN, you get to choose.

Souji Tendou

Haha, as I thought, the covers got “normalized”.

mikeszekely

I don’t mind if Atlus wants to give customers more choices. How about letting 360 owners choose to have the more awesome PS3 cover?

http://twitter.com/sakurairomemori Alphabet Soup

I like that Atlus chose this option. The fans that know about the Japanese covers will know where to find them, but these other covers may help the game to avoid some unnecessary controversy. That and I won’t have to hide the game when company comes over…I already got enough flack for being in the middle of Rise’s dungeon on P4 one time.

http://twitter.com/Buuhan1 Kyle Fedora

Yayz, I got mentioned! Also great to hear that the cover isn’t actually being censored… tho safe to say most B&M stores are gonna carry the less-risque edition. Guess Amazon it is.

GameStop might have both.. since y’know they did carry the Agarest Wars game on the shelves for awhile, then had to store it in the back b/c of the risque images. It’s not hard to have multiple SKUs for one game.. like with special editions and whatnot.

http://photovoltaik.bandcamp.com/ Ujn Hunter

Prudes!

128bitigor

Either way, I like the “safe” one as well, if not more. Normal one sorta looks like Hentai cover in the PS3 version…

http://twitter.com/law0806 law

HAHA, what that package LOL im so happy im a japanese

Joanna

I’m really thankful for Atlus giving us the choice since the PS3 version looks more suggestive and with no 360, I’m stuck with Catherine. I’m not entirely sure which boxart I’ll go with, but the censored one is looking likely. I don’t really feel like explaining why I have a sexy chick on the cover to family members that might come across the game. And if it happened to be someone in particular, I know they would never let it go. >__<

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